Chapter 33: The Injured Grotle

The sun was setting, casting a warm glow across the plains.

On the grass, Paul sat quietly, holding an egg. Beside him, a Blissey was deeply focused on their task, exuding an air of calm intensity.

If someone approached them at that moment, they would immediately sense something off. The gravity in the area felt unnaturally heavy. Even if a Pokémon flew overhead, it would likely be forced to the ground under the weight of the invisible force.

Unbeknownst to the outside world, the gravity within a few meters of this spot had intensified to an astonishing degree.

"That should do it. Slowly lower the gravity and maintain the healing pulse." Paul instructed his Blissey, his attention fully on the egg.

"Blissey~"

The Blissey nodded, gradually reducing the gravity while continuing its healing aura.

The resilience and adaptability of Pokémon life were truly astounding. Even an unhatched Pokémon could begin "tempering" its body under these conditions with the aid of Blissey's Heal Pulse.

Before it was even born, the Pokémon inside the egg had already begun to grow stronger.

Compared to the time it took to adjust to higher gravity, the little Pokémon within the egg adapted remarkably quickly when the gravity was reduced. Within an hour, it had stabilized under normal gravitational conditions.

"That's enough for today. Blissey, I'll leave the egg in your care. Make sure everything inside remains stable."

After observing the egg for a while and confirming that it was fine, Paul handed it over to Blissey and got up to prepare dinner for his other Pokémon.

Once the evening chores were done, Paul decided to stay and rest for the night instead of traveling further.

Under the moonlit sky, surrounded by sparkling stars, Paul lay in his sleeping bag, gazing into the distance with his Pokémon by his side.

Now that he had a moment to reflect, Paul realized something intriguing: this "prenatal training" method could enhance a Pokémon's abilities even before birth, compensating for innate deficiencies and strengthening their physical condition.

Though the process carried certain risks, it seemed to be a logical approach. He resolved to monitor the results after the Pokémon hatched. If the method proved effective, he might share it with his older brother for further study. The Pokémon raised in the breeding center could benefit significantly from this discovery.

However, since the technique was still in its infancy, he knew future training sessions would need to be conducted with even greater caution.

"It's getting late, let's rest." Paul murmured to his Pokémon as sleepiness began to overtake him.

"Bzzzt~"

"Ursa~"

"Gib~"

"Blissey~"

His Pokémon responded softly, curling up around him. The egg rested safely in its incubation device, glowing faintly under the starlight.

As the night deepened, the world fell into a peaceful slumber.

Several Days Later

Paul, carrying an egg and accompanied by his Blissey walked across the plains toward Eterna City.

Since that day, Paul had made a habit of carrying the egg while traveling, letting Blissey use Gravity or Heal Pulse to continue its unique "prenatal training."

With practice, both Paul and Blissey had grown adept at this method. Paul could feel the Pokémon inside the egg growing stronger, its vitality becoming increasingly robust.

However, there was one puzzling aspect. For some reason, the development of the Pokémon inside the egg had slowed.

Paul had initially estimated that it would hatch within two or three days. But now, five or six days had passed, and the Pokémon still hadn't emerged. Instead, the energy radiating from within the egg had only grown more intense.

Meanwhile...

"Faster, faster... Please hold on!"

A boy was sprinting across the plains, his expression filled with urgency. In the distance, he spotted the purple-haired boy with a Blissey. Relief washed over him as he shouted:

"Hey! Wait! Please stop!"

Paul, hearing the commotion, turned around, his face impassive as he observed the approaching boy.

"What do you want?"

Panting heavily, the boy finally caught up. "H-hello... My name is Carl, a new Trainer from Jubilife City."

"I just encountered a powerful Pokémon and tried to catch it, but I was completely outmatched. My Pokémon was severely injured. Please, can your Blissey help heal it? I'm begging you!"

Carl clasped his hands together and bowed deeply.

Paul frowned. To him, a Trainer's responsibility was to care for their Pokémon without relying on others. Only weak Trainers constantly needed help.

He responded curtly, "As a Trainer, how could you not carry basic medicine? That's common sense."

"I lost my potions by accident! It's my fault, I know. Please, help me!"

Embarrassed and desperate, Carl released his injured Grotle from its Poké Ball.

The Grass-type Pokémon, known for its robust vitality, was now lying on the ground, covered in burns and barely able to open its eyes.

Even Paul was taken aback. Despite his rigorous training methods, he had never pushed a Pokémon to such a dire state.

At this rate, without immediate care, the Grotle would likely suffer permanent damage—or worse. And the nearest Pokémon Center was at least five hours away.

"Blissey, use Soft-Boiled and Heal Pulse."

Paul gave his order, his expression neutral.

"Blii-ssey~"

Blissey quickly conjured a glowing egg with Soft-Boiled, sending it toward Grotle. The energy from the egg spread through the Pokémon, healing its wounds at a visible rate.

Afterward, Blissey followed up with Heal Pulse, soothing Grotle's pain and restoring some of its vitality.

Despite these efforts, the Grotle was still far from fully recovered. Complete healing would require professional care at a Pokémon Center and several days of rest.

"Thank you so much! Grotle, you're okay!" Carl hugged his Pokémon in relief before turning to Paul. "I can't thank you enough—"

"Where is the Pokémon that injured your Grotle?" Paul interrupted, his tone sharp.

Healing Grotle was merely an afterthought. Paul's interest lay in the Pokémon that had inflicted such damage.

Carl hesitated before pointing toward a distant mountain range. "It's a Magmar. It lives in a valley near the foothills. Be careful if you're planning to face it—its Flamethrower is incredibly strong!"

Paul smirked, a hint of mockery in his eyes. "Strong? If you can't handle it, don't waste my time."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, his mind already strategizing how to capture the Fire-type Pokémon.

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